Communication in today’s conflicts

How is the expansion of the internet and, more specifically, web 2.0 social media affecting communication and the media in today’s conflicts? A short conference at NATO Headquarters on 6 July, organized by the NATO Library and the Institut français des relations internationales (IFRI), will address this question.

Marc Hecker – Research Fellow at IFRI and co-author (with Thomas Rid) of the book ‘War 2.0: Irregular Warfare in the Information Age’ – argues that today’s conflicts, taking place among populations, have a “social” dimension. The US army even goes as far as using the term “armed social work” for part of its actions in Afghanistan and Irak. The media have also become more social, as each and every citizen, insurgent, or soldier can now open their own blog and provide information worldwide. How are military and insurgency communication networks affected by this transformation?

The conference starts at 2pm and will be chaired by Dominique David, Executive Vice-President, IFRI. Afterwards, Marc Hecker will sign copies of his book in the NATO Library from 3pm.